Is Arceus viable in Gen 9 Anything Goes?

Arceus is ranked #4 in Gen 9 Anything Goes with 40.48% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Arceus in Gen 9 Anything Goes?

Dondozo has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 82.4% of 179.86711285897405 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.0 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Arceus matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 Anything Goes?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Arceus was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Arceus counters

Gen 9 Anything Goes · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0493 Arceus

Normal

USAGE 40.5% #4

BASE STATS

HP 120

ATK 120

DEF 120

SPA 120

SPD 120

SPE 120

BST720

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

Fighting

0×

Ghost

Moves

Extreme Speed 89.5% Shadow Claw 76.1% Swords Dance 71.5% Recover 42.6% Taunt 31.8% Earthquake 17.9% Bulk Up 14.2% Perish Song 9.0%

Items

Silk Scarf 27.1% Heavy-Duty Boots 26.8% Mental Herb 22.4% Leftovers 10.2% Lum Berry 6.0% Life Orb 2.7% Safety Goggles 1.0% Focus Sash 0.9%

Tera Types

Normal 52.4% Fire 20.8% Ghost 18.6% Dark 3.5% Grass 1.9% Fairy 1.1% Ground 0.6% Electric 0.5%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 9 Anything Goes teams using Arceus →

Explore Arceus + Zacian-Crowned teams 50 score Explore Arceus + Koraidon teams 50 score Explore Arceus + Skeledirge teams 47 score Explore Arceus + Calyrex-Ice teams 46 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Arceus + Calyrex-Shadow 72.8% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Dondozo

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

179.867

66.6

82.4% Standard error 3.96 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dondozo: 108-127 (21.4 - 25.1%) -- possible 5HKO

View Dondozo counters →

Skarmory

SteelFlying DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.53

51.1

82.5% Standard error 7.84 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 46-55 (13.7 - 16.4%) -- possible 7HKO

Zacian-Crowned

FairySteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

521.191

50.4

64.6% Standard error 3.55 points

DAMAGE CALC

+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 408-482 (91.8 - 108.5%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

View Zacian-Crowned counters → Teams with Zacian-Crowned →

Koraidon

FightingDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

1,943.574

49.9

57.5% Standard error 1.91 points

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ Atk Orichalcum Pulse Koraidon Collision Course (133.3251953125 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 560-660 (126.1 - 148.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Koraidon counters → Teams with Koraidon →

Skeledirge

FireGhost DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

466.827

47.0

62.3% Standard error 3.83 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Arceus Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skeledirge: 164-194 (39.8 - 47%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Skeledirge counters → Teams with Skeledirge →

Calyrex-Ice

PsychicIce DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

342.595

45.9

63.2% Standard error 4.33 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Calyrex-Ice: 88-105 (21.7 - 25.9%) -- 2.9% chance to 4HKO

View Calyrex-Ice counters → Teams with Calyrex-Ice →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

235.94

40.9

62.5% Standard error 5.40 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 57-67 (14.2 - 16.7%) -- possible 9HKO

View Corviknight counters →

Arceus

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

1,445.111

39.6

48.5% Standard error 2.23 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 139-165 (31.3 - 37.1%) -- 79% chance to 3HKO

View Arceus counters → Teams with Arceus →

Garganacl

Rock DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

62.791

37.8

70.2% Standard error 8.10 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Arceus Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Garganacl: 136-162 (33.6 - 40%) -- 32.3% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Garganacl counters →

Calyrex-Shadow

PsychicGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

3,845.747

37.2

42.6% Standard error 1.36 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Calyrex-Shadow Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 147-174 (33.1 - 39.1%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO

View Calyrex-Shadow counters → Teams with Calyrex-Shadow →

Arceus-Ground

Ground SOFT CHECK View matchup

718.948

33.3

45.7% Standard error 3.10 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Earth Plate Arceus-Ground Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 174-205 (39.1 - 46.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Arceus-Ground counters → Teams with Arceus-Ground →

Ursaluna

GroundNormal OFFENSIVE CHECK

29.842

29.8

64.8% Standard error 8.74 points

Arceus-Water

Water DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

90.312

29.5

58.7% Standard error 7.30 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Arceus-Water: 103-123 (23.1 - 27.7%) -- 73.7% chance to 4HKO

View Arceus-Water counters → Teams with Arceus-Water →

Sneasler

FightingPoison OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

132.077

29.5

58.4% Standard error 7.22 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Sneasler Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 368-434 (82.8 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Sneasler counters →

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane

PsychicSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

251.151

27.8

49.3% Standard error 5.40 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Sunsteel Strike vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 178-210 (40 - 47.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Necrozma-Dusk-Mane counters →

Miraidon

ElectricDragon SOFT CHECK View matchup

1,499.771

27.7

36.2% Standard error 2.12 points

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

252+ SpA Hadron Engine Miraidon Electro Drift vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus in Electric Terrain: 204-240 (45.9 - 54%) -- 48.4% chance to 2HKO

View Miraidon counters → Teams with Miraidon →

Ho-Oh

FireFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

1,094.853

26.7

36.6% Standard error 2.47 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ho-Oh Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 184-217 (41.4 - 48.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Ho-Oh counters → Teams with Ho-Oh →

Kingambit

DarkSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

283.843

26.0

46.2% Standard error 5.05 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kingambit Low Kick (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 252-298 (56.7 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Ditto

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

720.95

25.5

37.6% Standard error 3.03 points

DAMAGE CALC

Ditto vs. Arceus: 0-0 (0 - 0%)

View Ditto counters → Teams with Ditto →

Glalie

Ice DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.603

24.7

64.2% Standard error 9.87 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Glalie: 135-160 (37 - 43.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

20.994

23.4

65.0% Standard error 10.41 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Silk Scarf Arceus Extreme Speed vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 144-169 (36.5 - 42.8%) -- 97.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters →

Glimmora

RockPoison SOFT CHECK View matchup

469.041

23.4

38.2% Standard error 3.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Glimmora Power Gem vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus: 63-75 (14.1 - 16.8%) -- possible 6HKO

View Glimmora counters → Teams with Glimmora →

Arceus-Fairy

Fairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

233.142

22.9

45.0% Standard error 5.51 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Pixie Plate Arceus-Fairy Judgment vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus: 129-153 (29 - 34.4%) -- 3.1% chance to 3HKO

View Arceus-Fairy counters → Teams with Arceus-Fairy →

Kyogre

Water SOFT CHECK View matchup

348.423

22.4

39.9% Standard error 4.35 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

252+ SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus in Rain: 286-337 (64.4 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kyogre counters → Teams with Kyogre →

Chien-Pao

DarkIce SOFT CHECK View matchup

235.35

18.5

40.4% Standard error 5.49 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 232-274 (52.2 - 61.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Chien-Pao counters →

Arceus-Poison

Poison SOFT CHECK View matchup

61.526

18.1

53.9% Standard error 8.95 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Toxic Plate Arceus-Poison Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus: 117-138 (26.3 - 31%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Arceus-Poison counters →

Terapagos

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

128.984

15.2

44.9% Standard error 7.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Terapagos Tera Starstorm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Arceus: 88-105 (19.8 - 23.6%) -- possible 5HKO

View Terapagos counters →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

397.061

14.8

30.5% Standard error 3.93 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ting-Lu Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 136-162 (30.6 - 36.4%) -- 58.2% chance to 3HKO

View Ting-Lu counters → Teams with Ting-Lu →

Incineroar

FireDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

287.68

14.6

33.6% Standard error 4.77 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Incineroar Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 142-168 (31.9 - 37.8%) -- 93.3% chance to 3HKO

View Incineroar counters →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

423.299

14.4

29.5% Standard error 3.78 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Gliscor Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 124-147 (27.9 - 33.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Ranked #4 with 40.48% usage. Sorted by conservative score.